In the world's most populous country, life expectancy has been continuously rising over the last decades, benefitting greatly from China's economic ascendance. In 2021, average life expectancy at birth in China reached about 78.2 years.
Life expectancy at birth
Life expectancy at birth refers to the average number of years a group of people born in the same year would live, assuming constant mortality rates. San Marino and Monaco had the highest life expectancy at birth, while China had reached a life expectancy above global average. People who were born in San Marino or Monaco in 2022 had a life expectancy of approximately 87 years or 86 years on average respectively.
Demographic development in China
Whereas average life expectancy at birth has been growing steadily, birth rates in China have been experiencing a slowdown. In 2022, about 6.77 babies had been born per 1,000 women in China, the lowest point in the recent decade. As a result of low fertility rates and the extended life expectancy in China, the share of elderly people had been rising rapidly. The number of Chinese population aged 60 and older had more than doubled over the past three decades and is projected to reach its peak at 509.4 million in 2050. People aged 60 and older have been estimated to account for approximately one fourth of China’s total population by 2030, indicating a sharp climb from just above twelve percent in 2010. In order to pinpoint this massive shift in the age pyramid of China, an important indicator for measuring the pressure of aging population on productive population may be consulted. The old-age dependency ratio in China was expected to reach 51.5 percent in 2050.
Life expectancy at birth in China from 1960 to 2021 with forecasts until 2050
(in years)
Characteristic
Life expectancy at birth in years
2050*
83.75
2045*
82.95
2040*
82.07
2035*
81.14
2030*
80.18
2025*
79.2
2021
78.21
2020
78.08
2019
77.97
2018
77.74
2017
77.25
2016
77.22
2015
76.98
2014
76.72
2013
76.45
2012
76.19
2011
75.9
2010
75.6
2009
75.34
2008
74.87
2007
74.76
2006
74.5
2005
74.11
2004
73.75
2003
73.37
2002
72.99
2001
72.61
2000
71.88
1999
71.42
1998
71.17
1997
70.67
1996
70.27
1995
70.01
1994
69.52
1993
69.22
1992
68.73
1991
68.17
1990
68.01
1989
67.84
1988
67.58
1987
67.29
1986
66.97
1985
66.64
1984
66.3
1983
65.9
1982
65.46
1981
64.98
1980
64.42
1979
63.87
1978
63.22
1977
62.54
1976
61.8
1975
60.92
1974
60.17
1973
59.39
1972
58.42
1971
57.57
1970
56.61
1969
55.74
1968
55.06
1967
54.35
1966
53.64
1965
52.91
1964
52.16
1963
51.41
1962
50.82
1961
40.47
1960
33.28
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Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.
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World Bank. (July 5, 2023). Life expectancy at birth in China from 1960 to 2021 with forecasts until 2050 (in years) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/263726/life-expectancy-in-china/?locale=en
World Bank. "Life expectancy at birth in China from 1960 to 2021 with forecasts until 2050 (in years)." Chart. July 5, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/263726/life-expectancy-in-china/?locale=en
World Bank. (2023). Life expectancy at birth in China from 1960 to 2021 with forecasts until 2050 (in years). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/263726/life-expectancy-in-china/?locale=en
World Bank. "Life Expectancy at Birth in China from 1960 to 2021 with Forecasts until 2050 (in Years)." Statista, Statista Inc., 5 Jul 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/263726/life-expectancy-in-china/?locale=en
World Bank, Life expectancy at birth in China from 1960 to 2021 with forecasts until 2050 (in years) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/263726/life-expectancy-in-china/?locale=en (last visited November 21, 2024)
Life expectancy at birth in China from 1960 to 2021 with forecasts until 2050 (in years) [Graph], World Bank, July 5, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/263726/life-expectancy-in-china/?locale=en